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(No Model.) 4 SheetsS,heet 1. I A O.-.J VAN DEPOELE. COMBINED GONDUIT' AND OVERHEAD SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

Patented Mar. 25,1890.

am Nam" v (No Model.) 4 Sheets'Sheet 3.

O. J. VANDEPOELE. COMBINED GONDUIT AND OVERHEAD SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

No. 424,380. Patented Mar. 25, 1890.

' Suva whoa -="No Model.) r -4Sheets-Sheet 4.

' G. J.- VAN D-EPOELE. GOMBINED GONDUIT AND OVERHEAD SYSTEM'POR ELEGTRIG RAILWAYS.

witmaooeo Charles .7, TQnDepoeZe i'rnn rates TENT. OFFICE.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE, or onIoAeo, ILLINoIs.

COMBINED CONDUIT AND OVERHEAD SYSTEM FOR- ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

SFFAHFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,380, dated March 25, 1890.

Application filed June 6, 1888. Serial No. 276,260. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. VAN DE- PQELE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Conduit and Overhead Systemsfor Electric-Railway Conductors, of which the following is a dc scription.

.10 My invention relates to improvements in means for conveying electric currents to moving motors; audit consists, partly, in the com bination of a system of conductors located in an underground conduit with a system of I 5 conductors suspended above the roadway, both systems being arranged, constructed, and combined to operate in harmony and in conjunction, so that a portion of the railway may be equipped with an overhead-conductor 20 system and another portion with an underground-conduit system; or two separate electric railways equipped with the different systems may, by means of my invention, be operatcd in conjunction, so that a car may pass 2 5 from one line to the other and traverse both railways without incoi'ivenience or delay. It also affords a desirable means of crossing bridges and steanprailroads.

The invent-ion also comprises travelin con- 3o tact devices "h overhead and underground sy race for safely disposing the con dmleo oi the sysrcn'l not in use. It also i .ludcs various features oi". construction and arrangement hereinatter fully ointed out, and referred to in the appended claims. v

in the dr wings illustrating my invention, Figm'c l is a View in elevation showing a prtion of an. electric railway equipped with .0 h-oth ovcrl'zcml. and underground systems of c nductors, the point chosen for illustration here the overhead system begins and ner 'round system terminates, parts of mud conduit hein g shown in sec- Lionel. aeration. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the underground conduit shown in Fig. l.

3 is a cross-scction of the conduit on the line 3 3 of Fig. Fig. i is aview in elevation showi one side of the underground 5o conduit and the traveling contact-truck in position thereon. -Fig. 5 is an end [view of the conduit and contact-carriage on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a topplan view showing the contact-brushes in position between the conductors, the same being on the line 6 6 of Fig. l. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the means for supporting the contact-carriage when out of the conduit. Fig. Sis adetail view. showing parts of the car-frame, the devices for supporting the contactcarriage, and means for releasing the carriagether from. Fig. 9 is an elevation similar to Fig. l, but showing the details of the Overhead contact devices, means for guiding the same into position upon the overhead conductor, a modification of the contact-carriage and suspending devices, and the circuits to and from the traveling electromotor. Fig. 10 is a View in perspective showing the devices extending from the extremity of the suspended conductor-for guiding the contact -arm and grooved wheel into engagement with the conductor.- Fig. 11 is a detail view showing the tension-spring by which the contact-wheel is held up against the conductor. a view in perspective showing in more complete and extended form the terminus of the suspended conductor illustratedin Fig. 10,

Fig. 12 is together with a motor-car and devices for making contact with the said, conductor.

As illustrated in. the drawings, A indicates a car of any desired type. At B is shown a railway, of which I) Z) are the rails,*up'on'which latter the car A travels, 'and between which'is located the conduit for the reception and protoot-ion of the main electric conductor or conductors.

The exposed portions of the conduit consist of metallic surface or capping plates E E, between which is formed the slot G. "he precise details of the conduit structure form. no part of my present invention, except so far as they relate to the removal and replacement of the contact-carriage operating in connection therewith.

The structure herein shown forms part'of a separate application heretofore filed by me, Serial No. 276,256, June 6, 1888, and it will be obvious that-any of the various undergroundconduit structures shown and descrihed in my various applications for Letters Patent may be used in connection with the novel features herein presented.

The conduit is preferably in .the centerof the roadway,'and its structure includes continuous side walls, which, for economy of construction and also on account of its insulating properties, may be formed of wooden planks of, say, three by teninches ifn dimen sions, joined together at their ends in any suitable manner so as to form the continuous sidewalls B B of the conduit. The side walls B B are preferably supportedby metallic yokesO in downwardly-divergent positions, forming an inverted V, as seen in crosssection, and having their upper edges separated to form a continuousslot G. The yokes- C are made large enough to receive theside walls and to constitute sufficiently strong and substantial supports therefor. The yokes'O are formed with flanges extending around their inner margins, upon which flanges the lower edges of the side walls rest, and against which said side walls are securely fastened in position intermediate between the bottom and top of the conduit. NVhen both are connected to form one side of the circuit, the conductors Dare electrically connected at intervals, so that in case of accident to one conductor the current will pass around the break to the remaining conductorand the flow of the current not be materiallyinterfered with. The upper edgesof the side walls'B' B are covered bycapping-plates E E, which may be in the form of flat iron or steel bands or bars secured along the surface of the outer edges of the conduit, their upper surfaces being:

about on a level with the surface of the roadway. by lag-screws e or other suitable means. A

.continuous opening or slot G of, sa y, fiveeighths-of an inch in width is'left between the inner edges of the capping-plates for the passage of a portion of a contact-truck ,c'arrying the contact devices operating upon the interior conductors.

Devices for establishing D within the conduit may be constructed in many difierent ways without reference to other features of my invention, various forms thereof being shown, described, and claimed in contemporaneous applications for Letters Patent. (See Patents No. 403,009, May 7 1889,

, No. 403,800, May 21, 1889, and No. 405,626,

June 18, 1880.)

As herein illustrated, ot' a number of thin plates or leaves of copper II, or other metal of good conductivity,

The plates E are secured in position.

v and maintaininga traveling contact with the main conductors such devices consist" substantially rectangular in shape and of a width slight-1y exceeding that-of the main conductors D and somewhat longer than the distance between said conductors. A number of the plates H are secured between strong metallic end pieces L by bolts h, passing longitudinally through the plates and through or into said end pieces L. The plates H are each separated by suitablewashers h to allow for the greatest amount of flexibility, and

all of theplates H, together with their supporting-bolts h, are insulated from their sup.-'

ports L. A conducting-strip H is electrically connected with any desired number of the plates H, and extends upward therefrom be tween the end supports L, and is connected at its outer extremity to a suitable conductor J extending to the trayeling motor. The conducting-strip H is inclosed between pro-' tective plates I I,ofin sulating material, upon the exterior of which are secured protective plates K K, of steel or-other durable material. f

The protective plates fit in between the end supports L L, so asto constitute a strong and.

durable supporting device for the interior contacts. Metallic arms k are secured on the exterior of the protective plates K a short distance above the interior contact plates or brushes H. The. arms 70 k project beyond both end supports L, and their extremities are connected-to the axes of. and carry wheels or rollers extend slightly belgw t-hecontact-plates 7a, and

the wheels themselves, being comparatively small and thin, are carried between the main conductors, one at each endof the contact device, but entirely'out of electrical contact therewith.

As an alternative construction for the auxiliary carrying-rollers z, the arms K may be The peripheries of the wheels 2' prolonged and-turned up 'at their extremities to form shoes, taking the'place of'the-said wheels i, as shown in Fig.8.

The interior contact devices jushdescribed are when in operation supported at the desired height within the conduit by metallic wheels M, which rest and travel upon the capping-plates E. The supporting-wheels are or may be provided with flanges o-r ribs M, to

move in the slot G, keeping the Wheels in place. The wheels M are pivotally attached .to' the end pieces L by means of strong metallic brackets m, bifurcated at their outer extremities for connection with'the axles 'n of' the'said wheels. The ends of the'lower portions or members of the brackets m are let into slots or recesses Z, formed. for their re ception in each .of the end pieces L, the *up per portions of brackets fitting over a stout frame-piece 0, extending about and desirably resting upon the upper. portion and edges of the and pieces L and protective plates K. The brackets and frame-pieces areall securely connected by pivot-bolts O, which extend through both limbs of each bracket, opposite ends-of the frame 0, and into the end pieces L, affording a strong and vertically-rigid support f r the contact devices upon its carrynecting-rod c. U

between the jaws by appropriate movement.

through their when the contact-truck is lug-wheels M. The several parts designated form a strong and serviceable compositedevice, hereinafter referred to as a contact truck. The plate is provided with upward-extending lugs 75, and the plates K with pinsgk to which or other convenient fixed points on the contact-truck are pivotally attached parallel looped or double connectingrods Q Q, hinged at their outer extremities q q to a beam Q underneath the car. The parallel rods Q Q allow of free vertical movement between the car and contact-truck, but prevent the latter from plunging or upset ting. A suitable arrow-headed or other shaped catch j is also secured to the lugs 7r of the plate 0.

A pair of spring-jaws Rfhp'rcssed together own resiliency or by suitable springs R are suitably pivoted to the under side of the car in the vertical path of the contact-truck. The jaws R are further provided with divergent guiding-extensions R and lifted high enough above the conduit the spring-jaws R will engage the catch j and the contact-truck be suspended above the surface of the roadway when not in use. A wcdge-shap ed block 7' is located between the spring-jaws R and connected to a suitable hand-lever R by a conl Vhen the wedge r is drawn of the hand-lever, itwill separate said jaws and release the carriage. V

At'the termination of the underground conduit inclined planes are provided, over which the contact-truck passes, and is thereby automatically raised out of the conduit and caused to engage its suspending devices.

Starting from near the bottom and ata short distance from the termination of the conduit is an inclined plane or track, consisting preferably of a flat metallic bar A said bar being supported upon braces a, secured to the side walls 1 and rising gradually to a point where the auxiliarywheels i will rest thereon. (See Fig. +1.) The capping-plates do not extend beyond the ends of the conductors I), and the remaining short section of conduit beyond their ends is closed by a hinged cover A provided at its under side withan arched backing to. The truck A rises upward from the ends of the conductors D to the hinge of the cover A, and when the said cover is thrown back upon its hinge, as indicated in the drawings, a continuous inclined way,is formed, along which the wheels 1' 'i of the contact-carriage travel as the car moves beyond the end of the conduit, the contact-truck rising gradually with the grade and issuing from theconduitthrough the opening made by the removal of the cover A, passing thence over said cover, the elevation on the under side of which is so proportioned that when passing over its apcxthc spring-jaws w???" auto1natically engage the catch on the carriage. On rc-cntering the conduit the hand-lever is acttiouter end of which is means.

sides and top t t.

ated while the carriage is passing over the arch a, from which point it will gradually descend into the conduit and resume its place between the conductors D. The resiliency of the plates H will cause them to bend rearwardly, and so make a continuous spring of points or holes r when passing out of the conduit, the attendant will secure it in its highest position by the means described, instead of the carriage being automatically secured between the spring-jaws R. Similarly on the return the end piece'r jaws B, being distended by the wedge r.

Beginning at a point ashort distance from either or both ends of the conduit, a conductor D issuspended above the track in order that electrical connection may be established therewith prior to the severance of such connection with the conduit system;

Upon asuitable post S, mounted on top of the motor-car, is pivoted a contact-arm s, the spring-pressed in an upward direction by suitable springs S, ofwhi ch there may be a plurality, secured to an arm extending from the post S, as indicated at S, Fig. 0; or the spring may be attached at or near the lower extremity of the contact-arm, as at 8*, and connected to a vertically-movable weight S.

In order-to lower the outer extremity of the contact-arm s, Fig. be raised and held in suspended position by an insertiblc stop V, or other convenient Without some provision for lowering the extremity of the arm .9 when not in en gagement with the conductor D, it would be pulled into an almost vertical position by the weight 8 but when the weight itself is r l ported the outer end of the arm can be sustained at any desired height above the car, so as to be easily guided to the extremity oi the suspended conductor, after becoming @l'l gaged with which the support V can be it t drawn from under the weight The con ductor B terminates in a box .l.,-to which it is securely attached. The outer end of the boXT is expanded and formed with l'lfll'll g The box T is prcfcralny supported from a cross-wire, as T in any convenient manner, and from the inncrsides of its flaring extremities extend guide wires or rods T, secured to posts 10, located on either side of the track, or in any other con: venicnt manner.. The advantage oft-this con-- struction is that the guidewires T and the cross suspension-wires co-opcrate to give bothin" T 1.

will be disengaged instead of the ICC 1, the weight S may l in the guiding-box and the conductor attached" 5S resilient efiect of such suspension being theretheretoza yielding or cushioned suspension arising from the resiliency. of the transverse wires and to a certain extentof the posts-t ovhich they are attached. This is or great irn- .2'0 certain alignment of the conductor, give diificulty on curves, andare open to manyobgecportance wh en an upwardly-pressing trolley is.

employed, as in the present case, for any upward blow of the trolley against the conductor or the wires is taken up by the .resilien'cy,oi the system and no injury results either to the insulators, the wires, orthe trolley.

I am aware that upwardly-pressing trolleys have been employed with transversebrackets or similar devices for supporting the linecondu'ctors; but in such cases it has been customary to hang the conductor by a flexible strap or spring, so that the impact of, the trolley on theconductor would not be trans mitted to the conductor-support, but would be taken up by the intermediate strap or spring. Such devices, however, have an un tions, which are obviated by myconstruction,

in which the conductor is attached to the transverse wires substantiallywithout intervening springs and reliance placed principally on the transverse wires for a yielding or cushioned suspension. It willalso be obviou-s that the diagonal wires T also serve to resist the tension ot line-conductor D, and, being longer than direct transverse-swims,

have a greater resiliency.

The contact-arm s carries a suitable grooved I wheeLU at its outer extremity, said wheel being of a Widthadapted to pass through the narrowest portion of the box T,'-'and thence along the under side ofthe conductorl).

By way of illustration I have in Fig.12'

shown a more complete organization of'the above-described construction. I In said figure the box T is sustained partly by the guide wires or rods T and partly byacrosswire T extending from the posts W W". To avoid the necessity for a second set of posts in the immediate vicinity of the-posts W, I provide supporting-wires, which extend between the posts W W" and the next regularcross-wire-' supporting posts 3W W the cross-wire T which is secured to the box T, being attached at its extremities and sustained by the said longitudinal wires t it. After leaving the box T the conductor 1) is sustained in a similar manner by cross-wiresT at su1table points along-its entire length, or as far as it is desired to employ this system of suspension, the

by secured whenever desired. The swaying of the'car will act to swing the'contact-arrn s from sideto side when approaching the sus pended conductor. Said arm will, however, pass between the guides T, and be thereby directed 'into and then pass through the box T and into positionagainst the under side of the conductor.

As indicated in Fig. 9, the lower extremity of the contact-arm is provided with a well-insulated hand-lever a, further protected by a assess conical; insulator "u' at its point of connection with the contact arm, in order to. prevent streams'of water and the current passing into and charging said hand-lever during wet"; weather. A pin or stop V projects from the car in the path'of the hand-leveru, and in.-

case thecont-act-wheel U should become disengaged from its conductor the motor-man I can readilyreplace it by pressing up the lower end of the contact-lever and turning the same upon. its pivot until the contact-wheel is again in position. The end piece it is also provided 1 withnotches or apertures n adapted to register with the pin V, and when it is desirable to permanently lower the outer end of the contact-arm the end piece U can be pushed upward and hooked upon said pin, thereby holding the-outer extremity of the contact= arm in any desired position when not in use.

A suitable switch is provided for making proper contact with either the suspended or conduit systems of conductors. The terminal W is connected by conductor 1 with the base of the springs S, or other-portions of the contact-arm, and is in electrical contact with the suspended conductor. A terminal Y is connected by conductor 2 with the conductingplates H of the contact-truck, and thus represents the underground system of conductors.

Z is a switch-lever connected to the positive truck. At the point where the conduit terminates it is connected with the rails of the track by conductor or conductors 6, and the rails themselves are also electrically connected to form a return-circuit.

On that portion of the roadwayprovided with an underground conduit such as described the di'fficulty and expense ofconnect- 'ing'the rails will be entirely unnecessary.

The suspended conductor D isconnected with the conductors D within the conduit by a wire 7, shown in Fig. l as attached to a conveniently-located post N.

While describing the-construction in detailfor the purposes of this specification, I do not limit myself to the described. In regard to the overhead contact device I" desire it to be distinctly understood that in certain pending applications for patent 'I- haVe made claim broadly to the form herein shown and described, and that this-application is designed to cover an upwardly-pressing contact device of any suitable construction when used with a suspended conductor which has a yielding support by means of the transverse wires; that it is also designed to cover the specific specific details shown and,

ceases improvements in contact devices of this kind which are hereinafter. claimed, and that all other features of the said contact device are reserved and claimed broadly in the said pending applications, filed, respectively, March 12, 1887, No.- 230,649, and June .18, 19 8, No.

" portion of the line of a inclined plane at the 20V able contact-makin g substantially as described.

"l An electric-railway system havinga portion of its supply-conductor arranged in a conduit, and aportion thereof suspended directly above the line of way and'above a vehicle travcling thereon, a vertically-movable contacttruck arranged to travel in the conduitin engagement with the conductor or conductors therein, a contact device extending upward from the-roof of the vehicle toengage the suspended conductor, and means, comprising an inclined way, .for automatically throwing the contact-truck out of operative relation with the underground conductors when the aerial contact reaches an operative position.

An electric-railway system comprising both underground.andsuspended conductors, a-vertically-movable traveling contact-truck for the underground portion,and an aerial contact-making device for the overhead portion, and an inclined plane at .the terminus of the underground portion for ejecting the contacttruck when the; aerial contact is .in position to engage the suspended conductor, substantially as described.

An electric railway system comprising conductors located in an underground JCOD- duit and extendingalong a portion ot'the line of railway, a vertically-movable traveling contact device therefor, and a continuingconductors, and means, substantially as described,- for establishing moving contact therewith, substantially as systemof suspended described.

5. In an electric railway, with a conduit between the tracks, of a traveling contact device therefor connected to movewith the motor-car, an inclined way or track at the termination of said conduit, and means for securing the contact-truck to the under side of the; car on reaching the summit of said inclined track, substantially as described. I

- .6. In an electric railway, the combination of a suspended conductor, a moving vehicle, a c0ntactcarrying arm extending upward -from the vehicle,a'nd guides converging tothe combination,

for automatically ejecting the contact device,

Ward the end of the conductor and adapted to automatically direct the contact to its operative position in relation thereto, substan t-ially as described.

7. An electric railway system comprising the combination oi an underground conduit extending along a portion of the line of railway, main conductors located therein, a continuing suspended conductor, electricalcon-- nections between the suspended and underground conductors and between the returncircuit of the conduit and the rails, and means, consisting of an upward contact-arm, for establishing connection between the sus pended conductor and the motor-car, guides extending from the suspended conductor for directing the contact-arm into operative po sition, and a contacttruck for contact between the inclosed conductors and the car, substantially as described.

' 8. An electric -railway system comprising conductors located in an underground conduit and extending along a portion of the line of (railway, and a continuing system of conductors suspended over the-remainder thereof, a traveling contact moving in the ,conduit, and inclined planes for automatically ejecting the contact device at the terminus of the conduit portion, an upwardly extending contact-carrying arm, and convex ging guides for automaticallydirecting the contact-arm toward the suspended conductor, substantially as described.

9. An electric-yailWay-system comprising the combination of an underground COIldlll'C' and a suspended conductor, electrical'con-j nections betweenthe suspended and under-' ground conductors and between the return-' circuit of the conduit system and the track:

,rails, a contact-arm and a contact truck for contact, respectively, with the suspended and underground"conductors, a return-circuit in- .;cluding both the conduit and the track-rails,

Iro

circuit-connections from the two main conductors, and a switch for connecting the mo vtorwith the desired source of supply, sub

stantially as described. 10. In an electric railway, the combination, With a suspended conductor, of branching guiderodsor wires and daring guide-boxes atthe extremities of said rods or wires, and

the main conductors secured to the inner ex.-

-tremity of the boxes, substantially as de-- scribed.

'11, In electric railways, the combination of the motor-car, an upward-extending contact device thereon, converging guides, a flaring box, to-the outer edges of. which the guides are attached, and the main conductor secured to the smaller extremity of the box, whereby the contact device is automatically guided to position against the under side of the suspended conductor, substantially as described.

12. In electric railways, the combination of a moving vehicle, a suspended conductor, a contact-arm extendin g upwardly from the top of the vehicleand provided'with a downwar ly-extending hand-lever at or near its lower extremity, and'stops arranged to engage the said lever to hold the contact-arm in any desired. position', substantially as" described.

.5v 13. Amravcling contact-truck for electric the conduit, andan inclined plane within the to conduit for'engagingthe auxiliary supporting devices to elevate the contact-truck, substantially'as described. 1

1 -In electric railways, the combination of a conduit for'electric conductors, located along the line of travel of the vehicle, suspending devices at the under side of the vehicle, a contact-truck comprising exterior supports adapted to move along the exposed portions of the. conduit, and a cont-act device extending into the interior thereof, an inclined way at the terminus of the conduit, and supplemental supporting devices-arranged to travel upon and elevate the contact-truck on reaching the terminus or the 1 conduit and to automatically bring said truck intoicontact with its suspending devices, substantially as {described 1 -15. In electric railways, the combination 0s; a; system of jinclosed conductors, aninclined track orway for automaticall'yre'inoving the contact-truck from the conduit at the terminus thereof, and a suspended conductorprovided at its extremity with an outwardly flaring guide box or frame, and guide-arms di:

- verging therefrom, and an upwardly-springthe vehicle,

' I box for the contact device, having a yielding pressed contact-arm moving with substantially as described. 7 v 16. In electric railways, the combination of the conduit having an inclined track or} way at its extremity, a contact truck having a notched head or hook, a pair'ofspring jaws mounted against the nnd'er side of the 'car and formed with downwardly-(1iverging guides, and a wedge-block .arrangedgbetween the upper. portions of'the spring-jaws, and mechanicalconnections extending to the ve-' hicle for moving said-wedgelongitudinally to liberate the contact-truck, substantially as described. 17. In an electric railway, the combination, with a suspended conductor, of avehlcle having an npwardlypressing contact dcvice,-and transverse tension-wires attached to the con- (luc tor and-giving thereto a'yielding support.

V In an electric railway,- the combination, I"

with a suspended conductor, of a vehicle having an upwardly-pressing contact device, and] transverse.tension wires extending fromthe ing support.

conductor to posts upon opposite sides ot the .railway and giving to the conductor a y 1eld 19. In an electric railway, the combination,

with a suspended conductor, ofia vehicle having an upwardly-pressing contact device, a

guide for said contactdeviee attached to the conductor, and transverse wires giving the guide andthe' conductor a yielding support.

, 20. In anelectric railway, the combination,

with'a suspended-conductor, of a vehicle havin g an upwardly-pressing contact device; and supporting devices. for the conductor giving it a yielding suspension, and consisting of diagonal tension-wires extending to posts at the side of the railway.

-21. In an electric railway,'the combination,

with a suspended conductor, of avehicle having an upwardly-pressin g contact device con.- sisting of a lever-arm'having a contact-wheel journaled inits outer endyand transverse wires-extending from the said conductor to thc isides of the railway, whereby it has a yielding support.

23'. In an electric railway, the combination,

with suspended conductor 1), of a guiding- .24. In an electric railway, the combination,

' with a suspended conductor, of avehiclc havmg a ,contaot-earryin rod or arm extending to the suspended conductor, a tension-spring" engaging the l'ower portion of said arm for imparting upward movement to its-outer end, a weight connected with said spring for plac-' ing the same under tension, and a removasaid contact-arm is not in use.

' In testii'non y whereof I hereto 'aliixnly signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE.

Witnesses:

W. A. STILES, JOHN EAsoN.

ble support for sustaining the weight when 

